Beyond the Call: Volunteer Firefighters Serve Beyond the Emergency

A blink. A breath. A heartbeat. Each day thousands of Americans encounter life-threatening situations. At these moments, their survivalis aided bythose who have pledged to help others – many of them without pay. Volunteer firemen make up 70% of the 1.1 million U.S. firefighters.In Rosewood Heights, Illinois, the 33-person, volunteer department consists of teachers, factory workers and medical professionals.

Dedication

The department responds to callsnearlyevery day. Birthdays, anniversaries and vacations have allbeen missed, but those celebrating understand. “It takes dedication,” Rosewood Heights Fire Chief Tim Bunt says of his team. “Regardless if it has been a hard day in the factory, or if they are at a family event, they’ll answer the call.”

Chief Bunt has been on the force for three decades. When a volunteer joins, he makes it a family affair. Chief Bunt discusses their commitment with the husbands, wives and children of those signing up. They complete aminimumof 50 hours of initial training. Annual training requirements help firefighters serve a lifetime. The volunteers range from age 19 to the chief’s own 89-year-old father. They all understand the sacrifice.

Assistanceafter the Emergency

The firefighters and their chief are well known in this small southern Illinois town. It’s notnecessarilybecause of the volume of calls, but rather for their commitment to the community.

It doesn't end with the call response. The firefighters revisit the families who have called on them for help. They've moved furniture, supplied food, orsimplystopped in to say hello.

Life Changing Calls Sometimes Come Full Circle

Whether a firefighter has served a day or decade, each can likely share a story that has changed someone’s life –maybeeven their own. One of the most frightening calls of Chief Bunt’s career came across the radio almost two decades ago. It was an infant choking. Bunt says the adrenaline always kicks in with emergency call.However, when a childis involved, even more so. Bunt saved that child’s life. Hevividlyrecalled those memories when a new recruit recently came to sign up as a volunteer. He was that baby Bunt had saved 18 years earlier.